Transgender Students at U of M Claims Victory

Even though you might have a disability or be obviously different from others one cannot use that as a blanket to avoid responsibility.  You are still responsible for your actions and to be treated like everyone else. In this case, the student claim discrimination on many issues which did not pan out except one.
The Issue of transgenderism is fairly new and it will take time to sort out the pieces. We all have to exercise some patience and be committed to finding solutions that would have far reaching effect. This is the time of rights and people are demanding the right to be who they are and not conform to the imagination of the majority and we have to respect that. Everyone born has a right to exist and to be who they are. This is an interesting story, I encourage you to check it out.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/transgender-student-wins-partial-victory-against-u-of-m-1.2056972

See the work young and older women are doing in the world to bring equality and justice to women. This is a great website with information and stories that are inspiring. Perhaps you can find something here to inspire you work for women's equality and justice in your neck of the woods.

http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/meet-the-laureates/

Post Winnipeg UN Women Report

Dear Friends,

This is a message to update you as to the work that has gone on this summer to close the Winnipeg Chapter of the Canadian National Committee for UN Women and plans for us to move forward.

Great news - we were able to send $9,912.91 to UN Women, which brings to a total $43,912.91 that this Chapter has raised over 10 years. This is thanks to the work, support and donations from all of you.

The documents have been prepared, and sent, with the requirement that the funds be sent to UN Women for the Women, War and Peace program, and that the information on the Canadian National Committee's web site be corrected, ie that the decision by the National Committee is to no longer have any Chapters in Canada, and that the Winnipeg Chapter has been dissolved.

Although we could not hold an Annual Meeting, we did prepare an Annual Report, and you can see the final report that was sent here - http://tinyurl.com/8kbys3z. If you can't access, or open the file, let me know, and I can send you an electronic version. Special thanks to Allison Fenske, Donna Marion and Elaine Stevenson for their help in completing the necessary and sometimes stressful work.

We will be making a donation to Manitoba Archives. It's a great idea, so if you have something that could be included to record the Winnipeg Chapter's history, please let Wilma Sotas (<w_sotas@shaw.ca>) know. Also - Alanna Gray is willing to put together a "Memory Book" - please consider writing something about what the Winnipeg Chapter meant to you and sending it to Alanna at <gray.alanna@gmail.com>. Deadline on items for the Memory Book is October 1.

We can all be proud of the work, and accomplishments of the Winnipeg Chapter.

But it is now time to move forward. A small group of past board members, and planning committee members (calling ourselves Manitoba Women Moving Forward- MWMF) have been thinking about this, and we are looking to continue to work for women's equality, human rights, and peace - locally and globally. We see the work as complimenting the work of so many others in the community, and sharing and promoting their work where we can. We can be associated with the Institute for International Women's Rights (part of Global College at U of W). If you have any thoughts, ideas and recommendations to consider, please share.

In the meantime we are supporting 2 initiatives - one is Stop Violence Now! with the Girl Guides - scheduled for November 3rd. They are looking for speakers particularly on the international aspects of violence against women and girls and we have linked them with 2 of our members. Another initiative we are supporting is an event with MATCH, and a visit by three Feminist Activists in early October. They are being supported by the Nobel Women's Initiative and are from Palestine, Burma and Sudan. Will get more details out on this visit shortly.

So stay tuned everyone! Something good will come from all this!

Mary Scott

3083 Vialoux Dr.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
CANADA, R3R 0A1
phone: 1.204.888-2996 mobile: 1.204.996.7653
mary_scott@shaw.ca

"The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all." Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, leader of Burma's democracy movement

Bias Against Abused Mothers in Child Custody Cases - BC LEAF reportBias Against Abused Mothers in Child Custody Cases: Report
New study finds systemic problems in parental capacity assessments discriminate against women.
By Katie Hyslop, 24 July 2012, TheTyee.ca

View full article and comments: http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/07/24/Child-Custody-Report/

When a woman flees an abusive relationship, we expect the justice system will protect her and her children.
But a new report finds in some British Columbian child custody cases allegations of spousal abuse are used to paint the mother as mentally ill or an "alienating" parent, and instead recommend visitation, or even custody, for the abusive parent.
"Troubling Assessments: Custody and Access Reports and their Equality Implications for BC Women" - http://www.westcoastleaf.org/userfiles/file/Troubling%20Assessments%20e-report%202012.pdf - is a new report released today by West Coast LEAF, a women's legal education and advocacy organization. The report looks at what are known under the Family Relations Act as Section 15 reports: parental capacity assessments conducted during child custody and access cases.
Often a useful tool for getting a third-party, outsider's view of parenting abilities, the report found they could also be biased against and dangerous for vulnerable women with abusive ex-partners.
While there are specific guidelines to follow for family counsellors and social workers regarding family violence and the use of these reports, psychologists in B.C. have no such criteria. In addition, judges often take assessors' advice at face value, and limited access to legal aid in B.C. prevents many women from challenging assessments they view as biased.
"West Coast LEAF believes that women's equality is not served by the regime governing custody and access reports as it currently stands," reads the report. (...)